The coelacanth is the only living animal to have a
hinged joint in the skull, which allows the front part of
the head to be lifted whilst feeding. Other unique
features include a receptor in the rostral (sense) organ
of the head which can detect electric fields and may be
used to locate prey or monitor its surroundings; an
oil-filled tube, called a notochord, which serves as a
backbone; thick scales common only to extinct fish;
paired lobe fins that extend away from its body like legs
and move in an alternating pattern, like a trotting
horse; and a tail consisting of three distinct lobes. The
coelacanth is also noted as particularly mucilaginous;
not only do the scales exude mucus, but their bodies
continually ooze a large quantity of oil.

The scaly body is dark blue or brown in color with
white speckles, the pattern of which is unique to each
individual and provides good camouflage against cave
walls. Coelacanths can be up to 6.5 feet long and weigh
up to 198 pounds.

Distribution and Habitat

Once believed to have gone extinct about 65 million
years ago, the first living coelacanth specimen was
discovered in 1938 off the coast of South Africa. Until
recently the only known population was located in the
Comoro Islands, a small archipelago in the Mozambique
Channel. Since then however, coelacanths have been
observed off the northeast coast of South Africa in
Sodwana Bay, as well as off Madagascar, Kenya and
Tanzania. Individuals caught in Indonesian waters are
currently considered a distinct species (Latimeria
menadoensis) and are brown in color.

Coelacanths live at depths of 490-2,300 feet, where
there are submarine caverns, deep reefs, and volcanic
slopes, but have also been tracked at depths of just 55
feet.

The coelacanth is listed as critically endangered,
with deep-sea fishing being the greatest threat to its
survival.

The courtship and mating rituals of the
coelacanth have never been studied, but the capture of
pregnant females proves that fertilization and egg
development are internal. The average number of pups born
per litter is unknown, but one female had 26
well-developed embryos in her when she was caught.

Coelacanths appear to be very
long-lived and some scientists believe them to live as
long as 80 years.

Other Habits and Behaviors

Coelacanths appear to be most active at night,
spending the day hovering in submarine caves and foraging
along the coast at night. Individuals observed in the
wild appear to occasionally swim with their heads down in
a "headstand" posture, but this may be a result
of the light or electromagnetic field produced by the
observing submarine.

Scientists suspect that one reason Latimeria
has been so successful (and also long-lived) is that they
can slow down their metabolisms at any time, sinking into
the less-inhabited depths and minimizing their
nutritional requirements in a sort of hibernation mode.